Category: Media

BOLT’N BACK TO SCHOOL WITH SAN DIEGO CHARGER BRANDEN OLIVER AND THE IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS® FOUNDATION!

Thank you so much to San Diego Chargers Running Back Branden Oliver for hosting our Bolt’n Back to School Party ! Over 100 kids from the Serra Mesa Food Pantry, San Diego Rescue Mission and Second Chance received backpacks, lunch boxes, and school supplies. Branden helped the kids choose their items and then joined them for some catch with the football! All the kids received sight and medical screenings, a great lunch and games as well!

Thank you to Luisa and everyone at Serra Mesa Food Pantry for hosting the party at the Pantry.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this day amazing! Thank you to Board Directors Amber Esparza and Pete Aufsesser, and volunteers Susan Locklear, Kristy Salazar, and Ana and Destiny Fuentes.

December 21, 2015 (El Cajon, CA) – Thirty local charities received over $75,000 in donations from Sycuan at a Gift Giving Ceremony on December 10th, an event that started back in 2006. Each member of Sycuan’s leadership team, comprised of elected tribal council members, the casino executive management team and the casino directors, had the opportunity to each select a charity of their choice to support. All 30 charities were present at the event that took place in Paipa’s Buffet, where they had the opportunity to speak to the group about their cause and receive their monetary donation.

“The Gift Giving Ceremony is one of the biggest highlights of the year here at Sycuan. We are proud to empower the leaders of the tribe, resort and the casino to make a difference in the community,” said Cody J. Martinez, Chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. “Many of the charities invited to the Gift Giving Ceremony are big partners of ours throughout the year. Others are charities that Sycuan will help for the first time which enables us to broaden our reach in terms of charitable involvement within the San Diego community.”

The Gift Giving Ceremony began nine years ago as another way to give back to important causes during the holiday season. The tribe and the casino are philanthropic leaders in the community year around, contributing monetary or in-kind donations to over 700 organizations in the last year alone. In 2015, the group celebrated a milestone partnership with Susan G. Komen by providing the largest team in history to participate in the annual Race for the Cure.

Members of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation have resided in and around the foothills of the Dehesa Valley for nearly 12,000 years. Today they are a modern government, providing public services to their members, employees and neighbors. The Sycuan Tribal Government operates one of the region’s premier Indian gaming and resort facilities, the Sycuan Casino and Resort. The Sycuan Tribe demonstrates its strong commitment to the San Diego region through the support of hundreds of civic and charitable organizations.

The tribe, through the Sycuan Tribal Development Corporation (STDC), also seeks to reinvest back into the San Diego community with a progressive business development effort. To date, STDC has purchased the former Singing Hills Country Club and the historic U.S. Grant Hotel, is an investor in Hotel Solamar near Petco Park and is owner/developer of the Marina Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in National City. Combined, these enterprises now employ nearly 4,000 San Diegans.

For more information about Sycuan Casino, visit sycuan.com; for more information about the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation visit, sycuantribe.org.

On December 21, 2015, San Diego Charger Keenan Allen and Legoland teamed up together and invited the It’s All about the Kids® Foundation for a fun day at Legoland! Over 50 kids and their families played in the snow with Keenan, and then received toys from Legoland! The families were then given a healthy snack and invited to stay for the day!

Thank you so much to Keenan Allen, LaChica Sports and Legoland for this awesome day! Photos by Chris Brake Photography. For more photos, CLICK HERE!

Thank you so much to GIA (Gemological Institute of America) employees and students in Carlsbad for holding an amazing toy drive for It’s All about the Kids! The following article appeared online [click here ] and in the Coast News and the Union Tribune Newspaper!

Items donated to It’s All About the Kids Foundation include bicycles, playpens, learning toys and puzzles, stuffed animals, dolls, flash drives, books, art supplies and much more. Donations will go directly to two of the foundation’s partner charities, the Serra Mesa Food Pantry and the Crime Victims Fund.

“We’re so honored to be the recipient of toys and donations from GIA this holiday season. For most of our kids, this is the only present they will receive this year, and we are so grateful for such amazing generosity,” said Angela Brannon-Baptiste, co-founder and president of the Board for It’s All About the Kids Foundation. “GIA is making a huge difference in the lives of our children this holiday season and throughout the year.”

“Knowing exactly where our donations will go has really inspired our students and staff to enthusiastically embrace the spirit of the season and make contributions this year,” added Susan Jacques, GIA’s president and CEO. “We hope to make the holidays shine a bit brighter for those at the Serra Mesa Food Pantry and the Crime Victims Fund.”

Since 1996, GIA’s Holiday Gift Drive has supported a local charity each year. It’s All About the Kids Foundation is a nonprofit organization that creates new and innovative programs to benefit children’s charities and enhance the lives of less fortunate children and their families. It’s All About the Kids is committed to the advancement of children through the joining of music, the arts and the generosity of corporations and individuals. In all, the foundation collects toys for over 1,500 children in San Diego and Baja Mexico.

An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight in the early 1950s and in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world.

Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism. Visit www.gia.edu.

SanDiego, CA. September 26, 2013. It’s All About the Kids Foundation™ is proud to announce Operation Birthday Cake Fundraising Campaign’s youngest fundraiser is Sage Weiss, age 3. Sage Weiss, daughter of It’s All about the Kids Foundation™ volunteer Kristen Weiss, decided helping less fortunate kids was better than getting more toys and presents. For her 3rd birthday this year, Kristen created the online fundraising page for her daughter, sent out emails, posted on social media and made phone calls to family and friends asking them to donate to the It’s All About the Kids Foundation™. Her goal was to raise $750 and donations currently total more than double at$1515. And more donations still coming in from generous family members and friends.
“Some kids don’t have anything so I am sharing my birthday with them. I like to share. I don’t need so many toys. I have my favorite Elmo and Thomas the Train,” said Sage. “Mommy tells me to help other kids because I already have the things that I need.” Her fundraising page is: http://www.crowdrise.com/SageOperationBirthdayCake

“Nothing beats the feeling you get by giving back to others in need. As a mother, I’m instilling in my daughter at a very young age the importance of volunteering your time and giving back to less fortunate children in need,” said Kristen Weiss. “Our world is too consumed with things that don’t matter and if we can teach our younger generation to give back, our world would be such a happiest place to live in and imagine all the smiles you can put on other children’s faces.”

“It’s All about the Kids Foundation™ encourages everyone to join Sage and Operation Birthday Cake by creating a personal page on the fundraising site, http://www.crowdrise.com/OperationBirthdayCake . My goal has always been to start of generation of ‘givers’ when they are young, but Sage’s generosity has far exceeded all expectations!” said Co-Founder and President of the Board, Angela Brannon.

Created in 2012 by It’s All About the Kids Foundation™’s supporters Mark Barneburg and Lisa Kogan, Operation Birthday Cake is an online fundraising campaign where supporters ask for donations to It’s All About the Kids Foundation™ instead of gifts for their birthday. In 2012, these two generous adults raised money online and also had a toy drive, raising over $1500 and collecting over 50 toys for the Charity. Other supporters help raise over $1500, including $500 from Kristen Weiss’s campaign.

It’s All About the Kids Foundation is a 501 c[3] non profit organization that creates and provides new and innovative programs and services to benefit children’s charities and enhances the lives of less fortunate children and those in need. They help kids SUCCEED! They serve over 1000 children that are impacted by HIV/AIDS, homelessness, neglect, abuse and crime in Southern California and Baja Mexico. www.ItsAllAboutTheKids.org

Drive, Motivation and a Good Support System are Keys to College Success
It’s All About the Kids Foundation announces the College Graduation of Trisha McElroy

San Diego, CA – June 3, 2013 – It’s All About the Kids Foundation is proud to announce the college graduation of the first female student of the Difference for a Week Program. The Difference for a Week Program helps college students succeed ! Trisha McElroy graduated from San Diego State University on May 18, 2013. She also was commissioned into the United States Army Reserves as a 2nd Lieutenant on May 17, 2013. Trisha participated in the Difference for a Week Program for the entire length of her higher education.

“I met Trisha in 2004 through the Toussaint Academy, where she was a student. She lived with her family at St. Vincent de Paul’s shelter in downtown. She attended our Difference for a Day annual events including Prom and Life Skills Scavenger Hunt as well as sporting events and meeting San Diego Charger players. We promised her that if she got into college, she could be in the Difference for a Week Program. She not only got into college, but studied abroad, succeed and graduated,” said Co-Founder and President of the Board Angela Brannon.

After Graduating from the Toussaint Academy in November of 2005, Trisha’s higher education began at San Diego City College in 2006. In 2008, she studied abroad in Italy for three months, staying with a host family and learning the culture and language. From 2010-2011, she joined the Army Reserves and completed her basic training, went on to her advanced individual training for combat medics and earned EMT certification.

In the Fall of 2011, she was accepted to SDSU, where she joined the ROTC program and studied Psychology with a minor in Military Science. In the Summer of 2012, she participated in the Project GO language program studying Farsi [earning high marks] and completed ROTC Training in Fort Lewis, Washington. While in training, she ranked 4th out of 44 cadets, earning the highest grade possible and being in the top 5% of her class. In December of 2012, she received two scholarships from SDSU and study abroad in India, learning about the past, present and future of the country and earning an outstanding grade of A. In May 2013, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Psychology with a minor in Military Science. She also received her commission into the United States Army Reserves as a 2nd Lieutenant as a Medical Officer and will be attending her next training in medical services this summer in Texas. She also held down a full time job, working at ZipIt Gear after high school graduation for two years and then full time at a convenience store to pay for her college and living expenses and support her family of 5 siblings.

“Drive, motivation and a good support system are keys to my success,” said Trisha McElroy. “Also, listening to my mentors, taking into consideration what they have to offer and utilizing the strategies and tools that they share with me. Exposed to the dangers of drugs and alcohol at an early age, I knew that to be successful, I had to get stay away from it. Maintaining a full time job and school weren’t easy, but it kept me focused and away from the party lifestyle. Learning about saving money and budgeting led me to having my own apartment, supporting myself and getting a great car, which gave me freedom. I am excited about the next chapter of my life and finding a job that I love! I hope to work with children and share my success and be that person to show them the right way. “

Want to offer Trisha a job? Would you like to Adopt a College Student and make a difference in the life of one of our college students? For more information contact Angela Brannon at Angela@ItsAllAboutTheKids.org.

It’s All About the Kids Foundation is a non-profit organization that creates new and innovative programs to benefit children’s charities and enhance the lives of less fortunate children, their families and those in need. The Difference for a Week Program provides support to youth who graduated from the Toussaint Academy and are attending college. The program provides mentors, a cell phone and modest plan, school supplies, and other grants for special projects. The Foundation is committed to the advancement of children through the joining of music, the arts and the generosity of corporations and individuals. www.Itsallaboutthekids.org

Tier One Solar Partners with It’s All About the Kids Foundation
Low Cost Energy Solutions that Support Less Fortunate Children

San Diego, CA. May 8, 2013. Privately owned Tier One Solar has partnered with It’s All About the Kids Foundation to support the charity’s programs for over 1000 children. Tier One Solar provides residential and commercial clients with low cost energy solutions while utility rates increase. Tier One’s mission is to help preserve our beautiful environment and also support charity. Through their Charity Marketing Campaign, Tier One Solar has committed a donation of up to $1000 per contract to the It’s All About the Kids Foundation. In addition, Tier One Solar has a training program that introduces young adults to the industry.

“We want to give back to the community through donating to the It’s All About the Kids Foundation and providing an exciting training program to help jump start local youth careers, “ said CEO Sepehr Nozari. “Our simple mission is to provide low cost energy solutions for everyone and we know we can make a REAL difference in our community”.

Tier One Solar serves California, Arizona and Nevada and is located in Poway, California. For more information, call 858.668.3133 or toll free at 855.215.2211. www.T1solar.com

It’s All About the Kids Foundation is a 501 c[3] non profit organization that creates and provides new and innovative programs and services to benefit children’s charities and enhances the lives of less fortunate children and those in need. They help kids SUCCEED! They serve over 1000 children that are impacted by HIV/AIDS, homelessness, neglect, abuse and crime in Southern California and Baja Mexico.www.itsallaboutthekids.org
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Over 300 guests celebrated the Anniversaries of :
Alexander Salazar Fine Art – 3 year Anniversary
It’s All About the Kids Foundation – 9 year Anniversary

The night started with a fabulous VIP Reception and meet and greet with the artists. Huge Thank you To MC Carlos Kremer! Guests enjoyed tray passed appetizers from Bailiwick and sipped on cocktails featuring St Petersburg Vodka, El Cartel Tequila, Hubert’s Lemonade, Vita Pure Coconut Water and drinks from Coca-cola.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
It’s All About the Kids Foundation Transforms in 2013
Co-Founder and former Executive Director Joins Any Budget Printing & Mailing

San Diego, CA – February 11, 2013 – Helping less fortunate children succeed has been the mission of the It’s All About the Kids Foundation since it was founded in 2004. Since then, over 11,000 children in Southern California and Baja Mexico have been helped by the unique programs that teach self esteem, college preparatory, life skills and also provide food, toys, clothes, shoes and necessities. In December of 2012, the Board of Directors of the Foundation voted to restructure the organization and transform it into a 100% volunteer organization. Jerry Stevenson was re-elected as Secretary, Dan Fumai as Treasurer and Angela Brannon as the new President of the Board. The Foundation has had over 400 San Diegans volunteer since 2004, with 75 currently donating their time and talents in the planning and production of numerous fundraising and children’s events.

Co-Founder and former Executive Director Angela Brannon has joined It’s All About the Kids Foundation Board Member Charlie Silveria at Any Budget Printing & Mailing as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We are extremely excited to have Angela as a part of the Any Budget team.” said, President Charlie Silveria. “Angela brings to us a unique style and experience that we’ve been looking for. We’re expecting great things from her as she heads our Sales and Marketing department.” Angela has been nominated for several awards including San Diego Magazine’s “Women Who Move the City” and “50 People to Watch in San Diego”, the Art in Living Foundation and been honored by St. Vincent de Paul, Christie’s Place, Molina Healthcare, and Channel 10. Angela can be contacted at Angela.Brannon@anybudget.com and (858)278-3151.

Any Budget Printing & Mailing is celebrating its 15th year providing high quality printing and mailing services for San Diego, California and beyond. Any Budget’s mission is to provide the highest-quality products and services possible in a timely fashion and at a competitive price. They promise to listen and help achieve your business goals and be there with honest, expert advice and quick, friendly customer service. www.anybudget.com .

It’s All About the Kids Foundation is a non-profit organization that creates new and innovative programs to benefit children’s charities and enhance the lives of less fortunate children and their families. Partying for a Purpose produces special events and fundraisers for the It’s All About the Kids Foundation. Together the organizations are committed to the advancement of children through the joining of music, the arts and the generosity of corporations and individuals. www.Itsallaboutthekids.org